Device synchronization

• US 10,511,880 B2
• Filed: 08/20/2018
• Issued: 12/17/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: PRJ Holding Company LLC
• Original Assignee: Piksel Incorporated
• Inventors: Shaw, Philip, Weaver, Miles
• Primary Examiner(s): Huerta, Alexander Q
• Application Number:
  US16/105,879
• Publication Number:
  US 20180359514A1
• Time in Patent Office: 484 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/489 using time information
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4126 The peripheral being portable, e.g. PDAs or mobile phones
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43079 of additional data with content streams on multiple devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4394 involving operations for analysing the audio stream, e.g. detecting features or characteristics in audio streams arrangements characterised by components specially adapted for monitoring, identification or recognition of audio in broadcast systems H04H60/58
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/443 OS processes, e.g. booting an STB, implementing a Java virtual machine in an STB or power management in an STB
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8456 by decomposing the content in the time domain, e.g. in time segments
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/858 Linking data to content, e.g. by linking an URL to a video object, by creating a hotspot

Abstract

Disclosed is a computer-implemented method of triggering an instance of companion software to perform an expected action related to a piece of media content during a delivery of that media content by a media device to a content consuming user, the method comprising: the instance of the companion software receiving a synchronization signal transmitted when, in delivering the media content, the media device reaches a reference point in the media content, wherein the synchronisation signal conveys a time instant of that reference point; measuring a current elapsed time from the time instant of the reference point; accessing computer storage holding an association of the expected action with a time instant of a trigger point in the media content; and triggering the expected action when the current elapsed time substantially matches the time instant of the trigger point.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method of synchronizing a companion device, in a network of companion devices, with a delivery of a piece of media content by a media device, the method comprising:

detecting whether a master synchronization source is available to the companion device,

wherein if the master synchronization source is available to the companion device, operating in a first mode of operation, the first mode of operation comprising;

receiving at the companion device synchronization signals from the master synchronization source, the synchronization signals transmitted when, in delivering the media content, the media device reaches respective reference points in the media content, wherein the synchronization signals convey respective time instants of those reference points;

determining timing information relating to a current point in the delivery of the media content based on the received synchronization signals; and

transmitting the determined timing information for use by other companion devices in the network,

wherein if the master synchronization source is not available to the companion device, operating in a second mode of operation, the second mode of operation comprising;

receiving from another companion device in the network timing information relating to a current point in the delivery of the media content; and

selecting the other companion device for receiving the timing information from a plurality of other companion devices in the network that also transmit respective timing information and receiving, from each of the plurality of other companion devices, a respective distance measure indicative of a distance from that companion device to the master synchronization source, wherein the other companion device is indicated to be closest to the master synchronization source and is selected on that basis, wherein the respective distance measure conveys a respective number of intermediate companion devices via which that companion device is connected to the master synchronization source, the other companion device being connected to the master synchronization source via the smallest number of intermediate companion devices and being selected on that basis.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

accessing computer storage holding an association of an expected action with a time instant of a trigger point in the media content; and

triggering the companion device to perform the expected action when the determined timing information indicates that the media device, in delivering the media content, has reached the trigger point.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising the companion device transmitting a distance measure which indicates that the master synchronization source is available to the companion device, the transmitted distance measure for use by other companion devices in the network in selecting that companion device as a synchronization source.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising the companion device transmitting a device identifier of the companion device for use by other companion devices in the network in selecting that companion device as a synchronization source.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

accessing computer storage holding an association of an expected action with a time instant of a trigger point in the media content; and

triggering the companion device to perform the expected action when the received timing information indicates that the media device, in delivering the media content, has reached the trigger point.

6. The method of claim 5 comprising retransmitting the received timing information for use by other companion devices in the network.

7. The method of claim 5 comprising the companion device transmitting a device identifier of the companion device for use by other companion devices in the network in selecting that companion device as a synchronization source.

8. A computer program product comprising executable code stored on a non-transitory computer readable storage medium, the code configured when executed to implement the method of claim 5.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the smallest number of intermediate companion devices is zero.

10. The method of claim 1 comprising the companion device transmitting a further distance measure for use by further companion devices in the network in selecting that companion device as a synchronization source, the further distance measure based on the respective distance measure received from the other companion device.

11. The method of claim 1 comprising receiving a respective device identifier transmitted by each of the plurality of other companion devices, wherein the step of selecting is based on the respective device identifier of the other companion device.

12. A computer program product comprising executable code stored on a non-transitory computer readable storage medium, the code configured when executed to implement the method of claim 1.

13. A companion device for use in a network of companion devices, the companion device comprising:

a network interface;

a processor configured to detect whether a master synchronization source is available to the companion device and if so to select a first mode of operation; and

an input configured when operating in the first mode to receive from the master synchronization source synchronization signals transmitted when, in delivering a piece of media content, a media device reaches respective reference points in the media content, wherein the synchronization signals convey respective time instants of those reference points;

wherein the processor is configured, when operating in the first mode, to determine timing information relating a current point in the delivery of the media content based on the received synchronization signals; and

wherein the network interface is configured to transmit the determined timing information for use by other companion devices in the network, and

wherein the processor is configured, if it is detected that the master synchronization source is not available to the companion device, to detect a second mode of operation,

the companion device further comprising a network interface configured, when operating in the second mode, to;

receive from another companion device in the network timing information relating to a current point in a delivery by a media device of a piece of media content,

select the other companion device for receiving the timing information from a plurality of other companion devices in the network that also transmit respective timing information and receive, from each of the plurality of other companion devices, a respective distance measure indicative of a distance from that companion device to the master synchronization source, wherein the other companion device is indicated to be closest to the master synchronization source and is selected on that basis, wherein the respective distance measure conveys a respective number of intermediate companion devices via which that companion device is connected to the master synchronization source, the other companion device being connected to the master synchronization source via the smallest number of intermediate companion devices and being selected on that basis.

14. The companion device of claim 13 wherein the processor is further configured when operating in the first mode to access computer storage holding an association of an expected action with a time instant of a trigger point in the media content, and to trigger the companion device to perform the expected action when the determined timing information indicates that the media device, in delivering the media content, has reached the trigger point.

15. The companion device of claim 13 wherein the processor is further configured when operating in the second mode to access computer storage holding an association of an expected action with a time instant of a trigger point in the media content, and to trigger the companion device to perform the expected action when the received timing information indicates that the media device, in delivering the media content, has reached the trigger point.